Andy Fordham was recovering in a Surrey hospital having had fluid drained from his right lung after he was taken ill at the Lakeside World Championship.

Fordham, 44, who weighs 26st and won the title in 2004, received a warning from Phil Taylor, the former world champion.

Fordham used to drink 25 bottles of beer a day and Taylor said: "It is not a game any more, it is his life. If he does not do something about his weight he is looking at the ultimate - by facing death."

Fordham's wife Jenny said: "I know lots of people say he's overweight and he drinks too much, but I don't know if his illness was drink-related or weight-related. He has an infection in his lung."